Wiley jones



(No Model.)-

W. JONES. $110 3 STRETUHER.

Patented Apr. 14, 1885.

INVEN m l= o heel.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

\VILEY JONES, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

SHOE-STRETCHER.

EPEGIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 315,631, dated April1%, 1885.

Application filed February 4, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILEY JONES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shoe-Stretchers, of whichthe following is a description.

This invention has general reference to boot and shoe stretchers; andits object is the production of an implement capable of successivelystretching a boot or shoe across the balls, at the instep, and inlength, all by means of one last and its large operating-screw, in amanner as hereinafter first fully set forth and described, and thenpointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, which serve to illustrate my invention more fully, andform a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of myimproved shoe-stretcher. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation ofthe same, showing the inner side of one half of the last. Fig. 3 is asectional plan in the line wrcof Fig. 2. Fig. 4; is a perspective viewof the small wedge, G, seen in Figs. 3 and 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective ofthe larger wedge. Fig. 6 is a side view of a portion of the stretcherdetached from the last and used for lengthening the shoe. Fig. 7 is aside view of the stretcher as used for stretching the instep, theoutlines of the last being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 8 is a viewof the top of the instep-plate detached from the screw and last. Fig. 9is the detachable compound bracket N. Fig. 10 is the detachablebunion-cap used in stretching cavities for bunions on the instep orsides of the shoe.

A in said drawings represents the wooden or metallic last of thestretcher. This last is divided by avertical and longitudinal line intohalves, connected by the hinge E, and along the inner side of each halfruns an inclined groove, L and L, shallowing out toward the end andanswering to the groove in the other half, as shown in Fig. 3. The screwB passes through a screwthreaded aperture in the not I, from the sidesof which nut, and at right angles to the screw, extend the arms or axlesJ and J, that work detachably in the bearings D, formed in each side ofthe last near the On the end of the screw B is secured permanently thesmall wedge G.

To widen the shoe or boot, I turn the screw and force the wedge G alongthe grooves L and L, Fig. 3, thereby expanding the last as the wedgeapproaches the end of the grooves.

Instead of the sharp-pointed wedge heretofore used, Iemploy one whosepointis of semicircular form, which admits equally of its being used inthelast and of its being taken from the last and pushed against theupper-leather lengthwise of the shoe to stretch a cavity conformable tothe great toe of the foot, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. Simultaneouslywith this lengthwise pressure against the toe the metal compound bracketN, which, by means of its slotted aperture, is fitted over the axle orarm J, and held on by the spur K, pushes in the opposite direction by areciprocating movement against the inside of the counter, and therebylengthensthe shoe.

'Io stretch a broader cavity in the toelengthwise, I employ the largerwedge, Fig. 5, which also has a semicircular point, and is then fittedaround the small wedge G, and secured thereto by the small screw M,operating through an orifice in the small wedge, also by the teethfitting into their respective recesses at the opposite ends of the twowedges, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. I also employ my larger wedge inthe last when it is desirable to stretch the shoe wider than can be doneby the small wedge alone. To obtain this extra wideningpower an extraand separate wooden last has been used heretofore.

To stretch the instep, I employ the metal plate '0, resting detachablyin the metal faceplate O, which contains an orifice or slot thatreceives the headed pine P and I? at toe of last. The instep-plate O isactuated at the heel end by the screw B, which, with its wedge G, restsin a cavity at the foot of the detachable compound bracket N, Fig. 7,which bracket is fitted into a slot at the top of the hinge E, the armsJ and J 'of the screw-threaded not I being arranged to oscillate in thetwo slots Q, and Q of the instep-plate, and the screw B projectingupward through the middle slot, R, of the instepplate. The apertures F(in Figs. 1, 7, and 8) are for the detachable bunion-cap, Fig. 10.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a shoe and bootstretcher, the combination, with the divided lastA, of the screw B and wedge G, provided with the additional screw M, allarranged substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, in a shoe-stretcher having the last A, of the screwB and the grooves L and -L with the larger wedge G, fitted detachably onthe small wedge G, as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination, in a shoe-stretcher having-the last A, with thescrew B, the screwthreaded nut I, and its arms J and J, of a spur, K, onone of its arms, which spur passes through a slotted aperture in thecorner of the compound bracket N, holding this bracket in place, as andfor the purpose indicated.

4. The combination, in a shoe-stretcher having the last A, with thescrew B and thearms J and J, of a compound bracket, N, fittingdet'achably on the spurred arm and held in position by the spur K, whichcompound bracket consists of a slotted aperture at its corner forreceiving the arm J, with the spur K, and having aroughened surface atits back to prevent slipping from the counter of the shoe, also having aslot for catching upon the'hinge E, and a cavity for receiving the pointof the wedge G, in the manner and for the purposes stated.

5. The combination, in ashoe-stretcher having the last A, of the hinge Eand a slot at the top of this hinge to receive the compound bracket N,as and for the purpose described. 6. The combination, in ashoe-stretcherhaving the last A, of the hinge E and the screw B, with a metallicinstep-plate, 0, consisting at one end of an arm holding the headed pinsP and P, and at the other end of the slots Q and Q and R for thereception of the screw and its arms J and J, as and for the purposesindicated.

7 The combination, in a shoe-stretcher having the last A, the screw B,and the grooves 1 L and L, with a face-plate attached to each half ofthe last and containing an orifice or slot for gearing thereinto, of theheaded pins 1? and P at the toe end of the instep-plate, all as shownand described substantially.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set myhand.

' WILEY JONES.

Witnesses:

RICHARD HENRY BAKER, J12, \VEsTwooD ARMISTEAD TODD.

